Going travelling!

It's been an age since I last wrote a shiftlog. Or rather a shortened life story punctuated by job mishaps. But I am reporting a success, a dream achieved! I am living and working in China as a teacher of English as a foreign language. OK, it's not my long-term career, but this is a personal ambition and I see it as a way to find out more about the world and about myself. I'm really enjoying it. I have a comfortable, interesting life here and everyday brings more things to learn, little differences that make me think. The city I live in, the culture, the people - everything is an experience I am absorbing. It is expanding my mind, my horizons...I can totally understand how people just want to keep travelling, go home to make some money, then go travelling again. Of course, I still have to make money to live on and I work hard to be a good teacher. In the beginning it was particularly hard because of homesickness, the new job, the difference of it all. But I can say that all the planning, paperwork, saving, has been worth it. I often think back to where I was back home - what I'd be doing in that particular job. (Usually bored to death in the filing room, or sometimes doing the bacon butty run on a Friday morning). All the time, in other jobs I'd be dreaming about being here, and so I feel proud that I accomplished something. Something that started off as an idea in my head, and some hours browsing websites for research/procrastination/dreaming has become a reality. So exciting! What next? Well, I am already planning to extend my stay here and take a new job. There's still so much to see and experience, and I'd love to see the city in the autumn, and travel around the country. Plus I have made some good friends who I want to be with longer! But a serial traveller I am not. Heck, I'm nearly 27, how did I get so old?! I'm turning over career ideas in my head, enriched by the new things I learn, experiences gained. When I get back home, whenever that is, the serious career shifting starts. I'd advise anyone who has had similar thoughts to go for it...the road will probably not be easy. The saving, the paperwork, the planning, but it is worth trying. I always remember the old quote about regretting the things you didn't do more than the things you did. Something to think about when you're in that less than enjoyable job that pays the bills. Until next time!